not passed in the forecastle for months.  All seemed in unaccountably high spirits.  An undefined anticipation of radical changes, of new scenes and great doings, seemed to have possessed every one, and the common drudgery of the vessel appeared contemptible.  Here was a new vein opened,—­ a grand theme of conversation and a topic for all sorts of discussions.  National feeling was wrought up.  Jokes were cracked upon the only Frenchman in the ship, and comparisons made between ``old horse’’ and ``soup meagre,’’ &c., &c.

We remained in uncertainty as to this war for more than two months, when an arrival from the Sandwich Islands brought us the news of an amicable arrangement of the difficulties.

The other vessel which we found in port was the hermaphrodite brig Avon, from the Sandwich Islands.  She was fitted up in handsome style; fired a gun, and ran her ensign up and down at sunrise and sunset; had a band of four or five pieces of music on board, and appeared rather like a pleasure yacht than a trader; yet, in connection with the Loriotte, Clementine, Bolivar, Convoy, and other small vessels, belonging to sundry Americans at Oahu, she carried on a considerable trade,—­ legal and illegal, in otter-skins, silks, teas, &c., as well as hides and tallow.

The second day after our arrival, a full-rigged brig came round the point from the northward, sailed leisurely through the bay, and stood off again for the southeast in the direction of the large island of Catalina.  The next day the Avon got under way, and stood in the same direction, bound for San Pedro.  This might do for marines and Californians, but we knew the ropes too well.  The brig was never again seen on the coast, and the Avon went into San Pedro in about a week with a replenished cargo of Canton and American goods.

This was one of the means of escaping the heavy duties the Mexicans lay upon all imports.  A vessel comes on the coast, enters a moderate cargo at Monterey, which is the only custom-house, and commences trading.  In a month or more, having sold a large part of her cargo, she stretches over to Catalina, or other of the large, uninhabited islands which lie off the coast, in a trip from port to port, and supplies herself with choice goods from a vessel from Oahu, which has been lying off and on the islands, waiting for her.  Two days after the sailing of the Avon, the Loriotte came in from the leeward, and without doubt had also a snatch at the brig’s cargo.

Tuesday, November 10th.  Going ashore, as usual, in the gig, just before sundown, to bring off the captain, we found, upon taking in the captain and pulling off again, that our ship, which lay the farthest out, had run up her ensign.  This meant ``Sail ho!’’ of course, but as we were within the point we could see nothing. ``Give way, boys!  Give way!  Lay out on your oars, and long stroke!’’ said the captain; and stretching to the whole length of our arms, bending back again so that our backs